The New Jersey Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Ambassador Awards. The Ambassador Award embodies the Council’s philosophy of Respect. Understanding. Change.

The 2018 Ambassador Awards will honor the people, institutions and endeavors whose work best exemplify how communities encourage understanding and acceptance of adults and children whose lives are affected by mental illness. This year, the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma is recognizing individual teachers, educational administrators and professional staff; public, private, charter and religious schools; educational programs and school organizations that have provided effective supports, services or programs that reduce the ways in which society stigmatizes people with mental illnesses.

Deadline for submission of nominations is February 20, 2018. Award winners will be notified by March 11, 2018.

Ambassador Award selection will be based on the following criteria. Community Education nominees’ actions or services should:

Demonstrate enlightened, compassionate and respectful methods of teaching children and adolescents how to be mindful and considerate in their interaction with people who have a mental illness.

Exhibit support and understanding of people suffering with mental illness, with attention to family members and others who support them, particularly in times of crisis.

Influence their school and the general community’s efforts in de-stigmatizing mental illness.

Model behavior and demonstrate to other teachers and administrators in their districts, their private, charter or religious school communities how to best interact with people who have mental illnesses.

Influence people with mental illnesses to seek help.

Encourage their communities to provide help for people with mental illnesses.

Evoke empathy and understanding for people living with mental illnesses.

Dispel myths surrounding mental illness.

Individual Nomination Requirements:

At the time of nomination, nominee must be employed by a New Jersey public school district; an accredited private or religious primary or secondary school; or a New Jersey state charter school as a teacher, administrator or professional staff member.

Must be employed in New Jersey at the time of nomination.

Nominator or self-nominated applicant must provide a short paragraph (250-500 words) describing the program, project or endeavor and the impact it made in reducing stigma.

Nominator or self-nominated applicant must provide data (statistical or anecdotal) on the public impact (i.e., media coverage, public praise or commendation, evidence of changed behavior in the community) made by the program, project or endeavor.

Nominee must consent to being nominated and be present at the April 19, 2018, ceremony to accept the Ambassador Award.

Nominee must sign nomination form. Without the nominee’s written consent, the nomination will be invalid.

*Winners must be present at the April 19, 2018, Awards ceremony to accept the Ambassador Award.

Nominator must provide a short paragraph (250-500 words) describing the submitted program, project or endeavor and the impact it makes in reducing stigma.

Nominator must provide data (statistical or anecdotal) on the public impact (i.e. media coverage, public praise or commendation, evidence of changed behavior in the community) made by the program, project or endeavor.

School district superintendent, school principal, school board member or organization executive must consent to an organization’s nomination.

School district superintendent or school principal must sign nomination. Without this person’s written consent, the nomination will be invalid.